Portable sectional enclosure



July 5, 1949. E, A, W|1 |A.Ms 2,475,416

PORTABLE SECTIONAL ENcLosURE Filed Nov. 15, 1947 i 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jully 5, 1949. E. A. WILLIAMS 2,475,416

PORTABLJEI- SECTIONAL ENCLOSURE Filed Nov..l5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Il fihi/ward.

J wie@ y 2% #Zrneys' July 5, 1949. E. A. WILLIAMS PORTABLE SECTIONAL ENCLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. l5, 1947 Z 2 lilll Vanni-nin ,Mm/Inf lllll 3 2 y INVENTOR. Edward/7 .7 WzZz'amf Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED' STATES PATENTl FFICE PORTABLE SECTIONL ENCLOSURE Edward Almen WillamsaNew Orleans, La.

Application November 13, 1194*?, SeralNo. '785;615y

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements ini portable sectional. enclosureand more. particularly refers to' a portable sectional cage or fence composed of a number of panel, and one or more door, sections so related that the sections may be transported in a knock-down condition to the desired location and there setup and interlocked with thev endand' purpose in view of throwing an improvised and quick. protection about merchandiseron a wharf overnight or in an emergency in! caseswhere the goods cannot be immediately warehoused or transportedto destination.

Such fences or cages are intended for the protection of cargo', freight andf other goods, wares and merchandise located on wharves, docks,` sheds, warehouses, terminals, and other facilities, although it will be understood-that the fence may have numerous other uses and may constitute a permanent as well as a temporary structure.

Another object ofV the invention is to provide a protection for such goods or merchandise from theft and pilferage and to achieve this object and purpose by a construction that is lightin weight and hence easily'portable to location, economical in its construction; andV adapted for ready' assembly into a coordinated fence' unit in which all ofthe sections will be closely locked together; theconstruction ofthe interlocking mechanism being such that stevedores and others employed in dock work may be readily able to handle the sections and to set them up and assemble the same into their interlocking relationship without any special instructions.

A still further object of the invention residesv in providing an extremely strong construction and one which will repel' all assaults of thieves, and moreover which is so constructed and arranged as to' conceal' the locking mechanism from' the exterior ofthe fence or stockade whereby the mechanism will not be revealed to the casualv thief and whereby further planned theft may be repulsed by the fact that the locking mechanism is safe within barriers which prevent theA manipulation of the locking mechanism from tools inserted through the wire cage from the exterior thereofi` With the foregoing and" other objects in view', the? invention will be more fully' described hereinafteri and more particularly pointed out'V in the' appended claims.y

Inthe drawing'sgiin which like parts are denoted hlv thesame reference characters' throughout the several views,A

Figure 1a isya" topiplan vie'wgwith parts' broken away and: parts show-n in section;l ofy an improved sectional fencel constructed inv accordance with the present-l2 invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same with parts broken away andlpartsshown in sec# tion:

Figure 311s ahorizontal section taken'on the-line 3-3'in Figure 2;

Figure 4-isa vertical section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure f 5V is a fragmentaryperspectivey view of the locking mechanism' and its mounting;

Figurev 6-is aperspective'view` of one fence sec# tion showing the hook receiving opening;

Figure: 7 isa similar view showing they opposed complemental `fence section with hook adapted toA enter theo-pening in4 Figurel 6;

Figure 81isv a fragmehtaryvertical sectionalv'iew of the two fence sections'ishown in Figures Sand 7- inl opposed initialr position preparatory to interlocking;

Figure 9 is'a similar viewy showing' the twosecL- tions brought together; i and Figure 10: is also a ver-tical section of' the two' sectionsinfwhich the-hook section' has been slid down toi cause interlocking of' the hook in the wall'of the opening.

lzeferring more particularly to' the drawings, the fence is'compos'ed of a plurality'of panel sections and at least one door section. Conveniently each of' these sections including both door and' panel'se'ctions i's made up of a"l substantially rectaiigular aluminuml alloy' frame covered with aluminum wire mesh. The sections have been' built 84n high which wil1`preven'tanyone from scaling thesame.

Each panel section' comprises vertical standards 2i) and 21', a transverse'ba'se bar 22 connecting thellower endsof the standards 20 andZl, and a top connecting bar 23 connecting the' upper ends of such'y standards 20` and 2fl. The standards 20 andI 21' and the baseand topA connecting bars l22 andv 23V are preferably of angle" iron' construction with't-he o-ut'er'anges'usli with the plane of the section and' presenting a flat exterior' surface while the inner'nanges are flush with the edges of the section and' project inwardly from the outer portions of the' front' anges.

Metalscreen or meshl material' is stretched across each. section, beingtted at its marginal portions against the interior surfaces of the out`` side flanges of the members 2U, 2l, 221and" 23"an'd heldthereagainstlbyrivets 25 or other appropriate fastenings' passing through retaining bars Mi'i placed over such marginalpor-tions.

Internalangllebraces arie rivete'd or'otherwise aiired in the internal corner portions of the frame to the inside flanges.

Corner braces 28 are riveted or otherwise ailixed across the corner portions of the rectangular frame at the exterior faces of the same, being secured to the outer ilat flanges of the angle iron members.

In the end flanges 2| of each section are a number of round or other openings. The righthand portion of Figure 2 shows three such openings 29, namely, upper and lower openings and an intermediate opening. The upper and lower openings are adapted to be occupied by hooks carried by the abutting inner flanges 29 of the adjacent panel section. These hooks are of peculiar form and comprise outstanding Shanks 39 with depending bills 3| projecting downwardly from the outer ends of the Shanks 3i?. The bills are in spaced relation to the flanges 2li. The distance from shank 39 to the lower end of bill 3| is not in excess of the diameter of the opposed opening 29 whereby the hook may pass through the opening 29 in the relatively raised position of the hook sections with reference to the opposing sections having the openings 29.

Each section also carries angle or other plates 32 riveted or otherwise axed to the inner ilanges of the parts 2|, and having perforated portions 33 having the axes of their perforations at substantially right angles to the perforations 29 for the purpose of assembling the sections end to end in the same plane or at right angles to one another.

Intermediately of each section is a transversely extending channel bar 34 having upper and lower flanges 35 and 36, such bar being secured as by rivets 31 or other fastenings to the external flanges of the standards 29, 2|.

In the channel frames are affixed in spaced relation a number of bearing plates 38 for a sliding bolt 39 the outer end of which is adapted to project through a perforation 49 in the inner flange of the standard 2U in alignment with the intermediate opening 29 of the standard 2| of an adjoining section. The diameter of the locking bolt 39 is substantially that of the intermediate opening 29 so that when the bolt 39 is projected across and into the opening 29 the adjoining sections will be locked against any relative un and down movement which would disengage the hooks 39, 3| from interlocking engagement in the upper and lower openings 29. In the same way when one section is turned at right angles to the other as in forming the corner portion of the fence, the bolt of one section will be placed opposite the perforation 33 in the intermediate part of an adjacent section so that the bolt may lock the two sections against up and down relative movement.

The bearing plates 38 are preferably angle members having bases 4| riveted or otherwise ailixed to the channel member 34. In this way the bearing plates 38 may be bent at various angles about their bases 4| in order to impose friction tension on the sliding bolt 39 whereby to hold such bolt in either projected or retracted position and to prevent accidental or casual unlocking of the sections. A limit sleeve 42 is afxed to each bolt 39 between the standard Z9 and the rst bearing plate 38 to arrest the bolt in its inner and outer positions.

The door section 43 ls similarly constructed; and in so far as the parts are the same, the same reference numerals apply. In this section is mounted a door arranged to swing on hinges 44 to open and closed positions and the door may be formed of a rectangular structure of vertical standards 45 and 4E with a bottom connecting bar 4l and a top connecting bar 43 across which is stretched wire mesh 49.

The door will be of a width less than the complete horizontal dimension of the door section and a vertical angle iron standard 53, ailixed at its upper and lower ends respectively to the upper and lower connecting bars 22 and 23 of the door section., defines the door jam or that part thereof which receives the free edge 45 of the door. The remainder of the door panel outside of the door is covered with mesh 5|. A channel beamA 52 extends across the panel section 5| at an intermediate part thereof and houses therewithin the sliding locking bolt 53, the same being mounted upon bearing plates 54 which are adjustable to impose frictional tension on the bolt 53. The bolt carries xedly thereon a sleeve 55 by which the bolt may be operated manually and which is arranged to strike one or other of the bearing plates 54 according to the position of the bolt.

In operation the sections may be stored one upon the other in flat knock-down condition in a warehouse or dock building; and whenever material recently unloaded upon the dock cannot be evacuated immediately, a suitable number of the sections may be transported to the locus of the merchandise and set up as a fence around the same.

The preferable practice is to rst stand up the door section 43, and then referring to Figure 3, attach section A to the door section at one side, then join section C to section A, section D to section C and so on around the rectangle, attaching section B lastly to the other side of the door section 43.

The method of assembly is illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and l0. One of the sections, as shown in Figure 8, is brought opposite the adjoining section. For instance, the section carrying the hooks 39, 3| may be elevated slightly above the section having the opening 29. Thereupon the sections are moved together as shown in Figure 9 causing the hook to pass through the opening 29. Subsequently the hook section is moved downwardly as shown in Figure 10 so that the bill 3| of the hook engages the other section .in and about the wall of the eye or opening 29. Both upper and lower hooks are assembled simultaneously in this manner. The locking bolt 39 is thereupon shot across the opening 40 and the intermediate opening 29 of the companion mem,- ber and due to the fact that the diameter of the opening 29 snugly receives the bolt 39 the sections are locked against any relative movement such as would permit disengagement of the hooks 39, 3| from the eyes or openings 29. 'I'he bolt 39 is moved by engagement of the iingers with the limit sleeve 42 and shifting this sleeve from its position against the rst bearing plate 38 (Figure 5) over against the upright or standard 20.

In a similar manner the sleeve 55 of the door section may be slid over to the right in Figure 3 to cause the locking bolt 53 to project through the registering openings 0f the door section and the next adjacent panel section B to lock this panel section to the door section and to prevent relative movement between the two sections such as would disengage their hooked association.

Other sections C and D are hooked into one another and subsequently locked together in the andere 5 manner-described and the section@ isj'oined at right angles toKA theA section Ai, the-i hooks 35, 3b and'the locking bolt 3 of'thesection Ciengaging in'v the eyes orf-openings 33@ or` the left end ofI the section'A as fshown'inFigure' Si As sliown'` in Figure 3 allof the sections are joined togetherin aisubstantia-lly rectangular arrangement to form a completeenclosureor stockade. completely surrounding; thegoods on' the-l wharfiordocli. Obviouslyithe sections might be connected in geometricalformation.

If desired, the sections may be nailed or otherwise secured-Ito the-wharf? or dock so ast'o prevent lifting of the same.

As showniinEigure 3.the doer.49may be opened and in this connection it will be noted that the hinges- 44 are upon the outside surface of theI sections therebyv enabling thedoor to swing-outwardly of 1 thefence so-as notI tobdrestrained by any of the merchandise protected in the enclosure. The door carries an eye 56 and the door section a hinged hasp 5l for tting over the eye or staple 56 whereupon the staple 56 receives a padlock 58, the key oi which is retained by a watchman or some other authorized person.

It will be apparent that the fence is interlocked as to all of its sections by mechanism entirely within the enclosure and accessible only after the door 49 has been unlocked and the authorized attendant enters the enclosure for the purpose i of retracting the various bolts 39 and 53 to enable the sections to be so relatively moved as to disengage the hooks 30 and 3|.

It will also be apparent that externally the fence presents a plain unscalable exterior devoid for the supporting plates 33 and 54 in which the .v

bolts 33 and 53 are slidably mounted. In the third place and importantly, the flanges 35 and 36 of the channel beams projecting inwardly of the beams and inwardly of the sections above and below the bearing plates 33, 54 and the bolts 39, 53 effectively screen these locking members from the eyes of casual thieves and pilierers, thus obscuring the mechanism and therefore leaving such gentry uninformed as to the method and mechanism of interlocking and thus failing to suggest a solution of the locks. For the more intelligent criminal class who plan thefts the channels including the anges 35 and 35 completely house and protect the internal locking mechanism in so far as any accessibility is permitted from the exterior of the fence. Tampering with the locking bolts by4 screw drivers or other tools inserted between the meshes of the screening is prevented by the flanges 35, 36 which will divert those tools away from the locking mechanism and render opening of the locking mechanism impracticable in this manner.

On the other hand the dismantling of the fence by an authorized person who has secured access through the door 49 to the inside of the stockade may be carried out expeditiously and promptly by simply shifting all of the bolts 39 and 53 to the retracted positions.

After the cage is erected in a complete rectangle and all the bolts thrown and the door 49 locked,

6i none off'tlie'bolts'ilor 532 may beretriatctediwith-v out openingr the door.' 49iand rst"` retracting the bolt 531on=the=doorseotion1 and soion, onesection at' atime; counterelockwi'searound= the entire enclosure.` This mayv readily` beVA seenby` reference t'ofligure` 3 whichl shows clearlyv that eachslidingr bolt when'thrown into'the' next section will prevent* aL retraction of thev slidingl bolt in the next section. This 's-v an" important safety featurey since, even if a person gains access to-tlie' interior ofl the enclosure by4 any means other than the regular door 45thereto he will'be unable-to retract'A any' of j the bolts and thereby cannot disengage `anyofthey sections. In other words these' sections may'only'be'disengagedi by rst opening the*door-43mthedoor'section 43.

Another importsmt` point is a fool proof; feature1in-tlie erectionk oith'ecage'. It will beseen again` by referrin'ng` to4 Figure 3` that the sliding bolt 53 on the door section 43 cannot be thrown into the next section until the bolt on section A, then section C, then section D, and so on, one section at a time, clockwise around the entire rectangle, has been thrown. It would therefore be impossible to close the door 49 to the door section 43 until all of these bolts had been thrown and all of the sections securely locked in place, because if this had not been accomplished, the bolt 53 on the door section would be protruding into the door frame, thereby preventing the closing and locking of the door 49.

It will be understood that the references to the size of the panels and the material out of which they are built will not be restrictive, but such statements are by way of example merely.

While I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at the present time, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes and Inodications in the herein described embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sectional fence of the kind described comprising companion panels each having eyes in one end and hooks in the other end, said hooks having bill portions not greater in length than the width of the eyes to permit the hooks to pass through the eyes when the sections are assembled in an off-set relation, said hooks being interlocked with the walls of the eyes by relative movement between the sections to a level final position, and locking bolts movably carried by the sections, each locking bolt positioned to enter an opening provided in an adjoining section when in such level final position, each said locking bolt being of approximately the internal diameter of said opening t0 cause locking of the sections against such relative movement.

2. A sectional fence as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the eye ends of the sections carry eye plates having eyes level with the first mentioned eyes but extending at substantially right angles thereto to receive the hooks and bolt of an adjoining section fitted at substantially right angles thereto.

3. A sectional fence of the kind described comprising companion panels each having eyes in one end and hooks in the other end, said hooks having bill portions not greater in length than the width of the eyes to permit the hooks to pass through the eyes when the sections are assembled in an offset relation, said hooks being interlocked with the walls of the eyes by relative movement between the sections to a level final position, a locking bolt movably carried by each section and positioned to enter an eye of an adjoining section when in such level lnal position, said locking bolts each being of approximately the internal diameter of the eye to cause locking of the sections against such relative movement, and bearing plates carrying said locking bolts, said bearing plates being so arranged with respect to said locking bolts as to impose frictional binding therebetween.

4. A sectional fence as claimed in claim 3 characterized by the fact that said bearing plates have bases riveted or otherwise secured to the sections with the bearing plates extending out at substantially right angles therefrom and being perforated in alignment to receive the locking bolts therethrough.

5. A sectional fence as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the fact that a limit sleeve is axed 8 to each bolt and plies between one of the bearing plates and a part of the section.

6. A sectional fence as claimed in claim 5 characterized by the fact that the bearing plate bases are secured to the bottom member of a channel frame secured across the sections on the inside thereof and having inwardly projecting upper and lower flanges for concealing and protecting the locking bolts and bearing plates.

EDWARD ALMON WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 706,288 Youse et al. Aug. 5, 1902 1,251,926 Schlesinger Jan. 1, 1918 

